Sketch of Birch Brothers’ founder E.V. Birch, which was done exactly 100 years ago in 1923 (Supplied).
E.V. Birch could well be regarded as the greatest breeder in South African history as the founder of Birch Brothers, who were national champion breeders a record 40 years in succession.
Father and son combination Syd and Colin Birch are the last pair of this famous racing family still breeding and they still operate as Birch Brothers on the original Vogel Vlei farm that E.V. Birch founded.
Colin has the above 1923 sketch of his great-great grandfather E.V. Birch framed and hanging on what he calls his “proud” wall.
The words on the sketch contain a degree of foresight.
They say “E.V. Birch, Judge Of Thoroughbreds.”
It was only really in the 1930s that the Birch operation took off, so years after the sketch was taken he might not have just been regarded as simply a judge of throughbreds but “The Judge” of thoroughbreds.
The sketch serves as a daily reminder to Colin of the heights Birch Brothers reached and who they are indebted to.
